Air separator



Oct. 6, 1931. 11 .1. STIURII'EVANT AIR SEPARATOR Filed Feb. 1, 1930 3Sheets-Sheet 2 I}VENTORI W A TORNEY Oct. 6, 1931. T. J. STURTVANT AIRSEPARATOR Filed Feb. 1, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 1 1&7?

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 6 1931 STATES PATENT o IcE V. Tiioiu s.rsTuRTnvAnT, or WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS, Assrenon To STURTEVANZQ MILLoomPANY,*or BOSTON, MASS CHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS Ain'-SEPARATOR Application filed February 1, 1930. Serial in. 425,100.

;The invention to be hereinafter described relates. to air separatorsfor grading mate- -'rials, and is embodied in a separator of the A=typein whichthe classificationis accom-' 'pli'shed by an" air currentmoving upward in a separating chamber and downward in a l:settlingchamber. The air current is induced by a fan and caused to whirlandcirculate vthrough the chambers. The materials, to be graded, are fedthrough a hopper into the separating chamber and are received by arotary distributor which throws the materials out" acrossthe rising aircurrentunder the influence -offcentrifugal force.- The lighterparticlesor fines are carried upward by the air; current out of'the separatingchamber over into the settling chamber where they gravitate downward andare dev livered therefrom, while the heavier particles or ta'ilingsgravitatedownward through the I rising air current inthe separatingchamber and are delivered therefrom.

I Heavier particles gravitating down from the separating zone intheseparatmg chamber, carry with them some of the fines which 1 adherethereto, randjthis is especially pro nounced A when sticky .materialsare being, classified. As a consequence, these fines have been carriedon down with the tailings out of the separating'jchamber, whereas ifthey could be dislodged therefrom, they would be I carried upwar b qthe; whirling rising a r four-rent over into'thesettlfng chamber, andthe efficiency of separation would be mate 7 rially increased. 3-Heretofor'e, a series of short vanes has been providedflbeneaththe'lower conical end of Y the separating chamber, and'the air passedfrom the settlingchamber through the spaces 1' between the vanes up intothe separating 1 chamber. IThe air whirling. in the latter tendedtocause the heavier particles -gravitating down from the separatingchamber, to ,fly out toward the vanes under the influence of-centrifugalforce, but the air-curling up afround. the lower edge I of the.separating chamber and the velocity of the air entering ,1 therein"practically prevented the tailings A from reaching the vanes, i 4

A purpose oflthe presentinventionislto lodged therefrom therebymaterially increasing theefliciency [understood by reference to thefollowing de-,

dilodg from the r r particles fines ad.

hering thereto, and also to breakup the courser partlclesinto finerparticles to some extent. To accomplish this, a main portion of the wallof the separating chamber is formed of elongated vanes having narrowspaces between them through whichthe air passes laterally into theseparating'chamber. The total opening between the vanesmay be as greatas the total opening provided by the short vanes in the formerseparator, but the velocity of the air passing between the vanes will bevery much less, and will be sufficiently low to allow the heavierparticles whirling in the separating chamber ward under the lnfluence ofcentrifugal force against the inner surfaces of the vanes. )The .lengthof these vanes is such that the heavier particles will whirl in a spiralpath of multiple rather fiat convolutions, and repeatedly ,70

batter andjrattle against the vanes, causing the fines adhering to thetailings to be, disand causing heavier particles to be broken up withmechanical action.

The smaller particles thus freed are win- 7 nowed from the heavierparticles and carried up'by the rising air current in the separatingchamber and over into the settling chamber,

ofthe separator. Another purpose of the invention isto pro- Vide meansfor regulating the classification taking place in the upper zone oftheseparatting chamber. To accomplish this baflies are provided and areadjustable to vary theg separating effect ofthe air whirling and risingin the separating chamber, so that coarser or finer particles may becarried over into the settling chamber as required. Also these baflles ybe justed to Positions where they are inoperative in affecting theclassification if desired. y o

The character of the invention may bebest scription of one good formthereof shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a View, in vertical longitudinal section, througha separatorembodying the invention; A

to be thrown out-;;

g. 4 11s a V r ngto'the'd 5 consisting Q iopeegmtil dietanee'fbeneeththe nppenhell lgv wheibwer'ma otthis"wh chthen materials from the sep zra r 2 iSa-VieW, in horizontal section, taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1; t V

Fig. 3*0n an enlargedfseelei's a view, in sectional detail, of some ofthe vanes;

perspective view ofone of the vanes; i 7 Fig: is a View, in horiz-ental*eetion, through the separator showing thexl-isposb i' -Q b iiesse d g I i-fig? i k fiigfi ti as: "of one oft'he ha'fis'a'nditmounting;

' shown thereln as one g vention', v

7 vented.

ig the ood form of the in-, comprises anzzonteneesingd: (Beg:

' hei oniif ithe external bearing earned by; t he ting aha-"m ke the collarinto the settling cha mber is' pr e Toconduet materialslinto theseparator,

ja suitable hopper (not'shown) may be connectedto the intake neck(Fig. 1) which fiends-t0 ,a eonieal hopper fi secured to the --ontercztsingqhead. V *At- -thet'op ofthe' separr-atonare channels 4E9supporting a housing 5lwnf in i e r n s s ie na le hich may besdrivenfrom any snit z't'ble 1 ley 6 3W n i he hath: 53 pnojeetedown throng hmid oppen 4 intothe isepara ting ehambef,;and oarrie 7 st f NProjeeting'u 'fromth diStrihuto ae p; i (5 mymg 'a; aifle p ete69.tf11he f ea-11s g the a irt o oirentaiteencl wvhiri rough *the 'ee-paliatingmic} Settling (':h:tn1b ei"scomprise ea 'dimicztl shell hnbj7 lh a ving va fiange m m ec'l onzen d secured to the 130 511561; v i hisshell b enci'l eles end ie spfeced from the p'pen l'i and projectsup-thnot h the opengflWi-n' the inner CaSing head-i: Secure'd -to --theupper; end-df tl ie Ii -1h re pfhitee fi Carr -y- I y the Whi 1 andseparating efiect; in z he of the Separating chamber, 4 2x 3 5 7? (F s;1",;-" ni i my proviiled in the present ine'tance of trian in-attommenaceayme the junetme o'fthe -iiieted to imperative positions; 1 wh rethey of the.; inner I lie panallel to thennderjsnr fiaeez iiheae; Theymay be seenpe'din their' "chfierentposnions' -th'e pr-esent' emhodinientitl'ie haifles v mammal an horizontal shztftsfit will un ie steodi th'atthey might be mo nted on 'f venticai shafts and ati j'lltecl onveir-tibarl axe;

t sepetetin'g; ehamber; 7

through the outlet opening'in the head thereof, through the fan chamber,down in the I lighter particles of material will be carried upward bythe air in the separating chamber the spout 27.-

settling chamber through the inlet opening afforded by the spacesbetween the vanes and back into the separating chamber. The

over into the settling chamber, and be delivered through the spout 9.The heavier particles will gravitate downward in the separating chamberand be delivered through The vanes 37 constitute a main portion of 5:thewall of the separating chamber and ex- 1 tend from the upper separatingzonedown to the lower end of the separating chamber. The upper ends ofthe vanes are flush with the shell 13 and the lower ends of the vanesare spaced from the conical shell slightly to allow adjustment of thevanes. Therefore these shells and vanes form a substantially continuouswall for the inner casing.

The velocity of theair passing from the.

7 settling chamber laterally between the vanes I multiple fairly flatconvolutions in this zone, so that they will be carried aroundrepeatedly and batter and rattle against the inner sura .result, fineswhiehotherwise would pass into the separating chamber will besufiiciencly low'to allow the heavier particles gravitating down andwhirling in the zone bounded by the vanes, tobe thrown against the innersurfaces of the vanes under the influence of centrifugal force. Theirspiral whirl is in faces of the vanes. Their impact will cause finesadhering to the tailings to be dislodged therefrom and cause thetailings to be broken up more or less, so that the fines may be winnowedout and carried on up with the whirl= I mg rising air current out of theseparating chamber overinto the settling chamber. As

out ofthe" separating chamber with the tail- --'ings, are delivered intothe settling chamber,

thereby increasing the percentageof fines separated and hence increasingthe efliciency of the separator. The vanes may be adjust- 7 ed on theircarrying bolts to vary their I spacingas required.

'50 regulation of the class fication 1n themain classification zonewithin the shell. 13.

The jbaliies 77 are desirable as providing may be adjusted to vary theeliect of the ,whirling rising a r current in this zone, so

thatparticles of greater or lessdegree of finenessmay be separated andcarried over into the settling chamber. The handles of the shaftscarrying the 'baflies are located externally of the outer casing where.they are conveniently accessible.

. .By my invention an improved separator is provided which efiicientlydislodges from the tailings' fines adheringthereto with mehchanicalaction and permits the air current to winnow out these finesfand includethem shown, and that various deviations may be -bafllesbeing adapted tovary'the separation effect. of the air whirling and rising in thesettling chambers having inlet and outlet and a series of relativelymovable overlap- They impenetrable with' the main stream of finesdelivered to the settling chamber.

" It will be understood that the invention isnot limited to the specificembodiment made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. An air separator for grading materials comprising,in combination, an outer casingf 7 an inner casing, a separatingchamberin the. inner casing, a settling chamber between said casings,said innercasing having a head with an outlet therein, means for causing air toclrculate andwhirl through sald chambers 80 and outlet, and a series ofbattles in the separating chamber at the juncture of the innercasingwith its head and extending substantially to the outlet opening inthe head, said and dislodge fines therefrom to be carried up by'therising air in the separating chamer. i An air separator of the typecomprising separating and settling chambers having inlet and outletopenings between them, means to cause air to circulate through said chambers and openings and move-up in the'separating chamber and down in thesettling chamber, said separating chamber being characterized by'anupper cylindrical POI? tion and'a lower frusto conical portion, the wallof said upper cylindrical portion being and the wall of said lowerconical portion being formed by. a circular series of spaced"overlapping vanes, the openings therebetween forming said inlet openingfrom the settling chamber to the separating chamber. I

4. The invention described by claim 3 in which thesaid vanes areadjustable to vary the area of said inlet opening.

5. An air separator of the type comprising a cylindrical casing, asecond cylindrical casing of less length suspended within said firstcasing, said inner casing having a depending frusto conical wall havingits lower end substantially in the plane 02fathei lower edgeof saidfinsteasing,

and two nested cones "below: and: eonstlueted g'torenclqse thebottomiopel ihgswdfsi i Quiet '1 {casingand frnsto conicalWall'sofgidlinneri ,:='casing, .saidfrusto conical 7 Wall. ofwthezilmer casing:being formedrwholly et -a .seri es of spaced?overlappingrwanesrieaehkextendingn "mfi The invention described by claim :5 in

which :thefisaid vanes are relatively adjust-able'to var-.y the lap andconsequently the Width from top tO bOttOIIiI thereof.;

. Ofxtrhe spaces between them.

7. In'an'air separator ofthe type having a? Vcircularpwalledseparatingchamber-and an :ontenannular'settlingchamber'gwithrmeans', i v 7 rfqr. causing "air to Whirl within thesepa-- mating 'chambenI'pa'ss out through its top, I

down ;through :the Settling chamber andback throughsnbstantially thelower half of the i height-"of the WalLof the separating charm. her;sai'dllower hal'l; otsaid {separating cham-y her Wall being :frusto.eonical in ishapeaand .7 zcomposedof a seriesof spaced; overlapping"npright vanes ,each of which is pivoted for an opening movement into ther-separating chamber, itheinaj or portion of said 'va'n'es'lwying insidethe separating chamber when :ar- :7

v 3o 58. An "air separator l c g ylin inner casing having a centralizedoutlet =in: -igts cover and an inlet at its vbottom fer esi tablishing,communication between said two casings; means for causing airtoWhi-rlandcirculate :up in the inner 'casi-ngethroughsaid fthrongh saidinletand a series of lo affles lojc atedgin thep'uppercorner'of-saidinner-casingoutside ofsaid outlet opening. I r 7 ----':9:-"']1he inventiondescribed :by claimV S in which each of said bafies consists of a:p'lat-el rangedin theirkopened relation. 7 7

dr ical covered casing, :a smaller cylindrical covered casing; withlnsaid first acas1-ng,-said ontlet,; down between the twocasings and 7extending radially into .said casing:

'10 "lhe nventiondescr b db y claim 83in" I which saidihafflesconsistofzrhcjvahle arti 7 tiionsprojecting'intothe casing he its enteravalil. V

,lLwT-he inventiondescribe-dby claim-8 in which said ba-file's consistsof'plates i nzconibinationzwith means for setting said-platesat" yarying inclinations to, the-paith otrnowement 7 ofzthe Whit-ling gairc-nrrents.

Q 1 l 12 llhe inyentieni'described @bfclai-in in I I d i Y which saidbafiles consist 'of swivelled 'zplates,

saiel swivels extendingzoutward to the outside i 1 c v of the outercasing for external contrdlxoi the ;;angular position ofsaid balflesl Y

